A Laker Career

A brief look at Jerry West’s career with the Lakers:

1960--Selected by Minneapolis Lakers in first round (second pick overall). West never plays in Minneapolis because Lakers move to L.A. before his first game.

1961-62--Averages 30.8 points and is named to All-NBA first team for first of 10 times in his 14-season career. Also selected to play in first of 13 consecutive All-Star games.

1965 playoffs--In a six-game series against Baltimore, West averages a still-NBA record 46.3 points.

April 29, 1970--Makes a 60-foot shot as time expires to send Game 3 of the NBA Finals against New York into overtime.

1971-72--Leads Lakers to a 69-13 record, including an NBA-record 33-game win streak. Leads Lakers to their first NBA title in Los Angeles. Leads the NBA in assists (9.7)

1973-74--Retires as a player after an injury-plagued season.

1976-77--After taking two years off from the NBA, West returns to coach the Lakers, who finish with an NBA-best record of 53-29 before losing in the Western Conference finals to Portland.

1978-79--West steps down after his third season as coach, having led the team to three playoff appearances and a 145-101 (.589) overall record.

1979-82--West spends three seasons as a special consultant to the organization. The Lakers win one title in this time.

1982-83--West is hired as general manager of the team. He is eventually elevated to executive vice president of basketball operations and continues to make personnel decisions until he retires and becomes a consultant after the 1999-00 season. In that time, the Lakers win four titles and make eight trips to the NBA Finals.

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KEY NUMBERS

39--Seasons with Lakers

38--Seasons Lakers made playoffs during that time.

1--NBA titles won as a player.

6--NBA titles won as a consultant/general manager/vice president.

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TEAM MARKS

Laker career records held by West:

Most points: 25,192

Most free-throws made: 7,160

Free-throws attempted: 8,801

Most points, playoffs: 4,457

Most field-goals attempted, playoffs: 3,460

Most free-throws made, playoffs: 1,213

Most free-throws attempted, playoffs: 1,506